Cowes – Isle of Wight Cowes is undoubtedly the most popular destination on the Isle of Wight – with the annual Cowes Week event, lots of pubs, restaurants, marinas, hotels and things to do, it’s a spot you definitely don’t want to miss! In East Cowes you will find East Cowes Marina with The Lifeboat restaurant, and a little further up the river you will find The Folly, a very popular pub among sailors and powerboaters alike, with its own personal pontoons. In West Cowes you will find plenty of Fish and Chips restaurants, sailing, clothing and chandlery shops, tea rooms and a whole assortment of marinas. There is a short stay pontoon near the Cowes Harbour Commission, which is great for a trip across the Solent for lunch. Cowes is around a 40 minute cruise from the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour.

Priory Bay – Isle of WightIf the sun is shining, the sky is blue and you’re looking for a sandy beach then look no further! Priory Bay is situated on the north eastern side of the Isle of Wight (just before Bembridge) which makes it perfectly sheltered in our prevailing south westerly breeze. The beach itself is soft and sandy so it is possible to carefully land a boat to unload all the buckets, spades, barbeques and picnics before you anchor. The relatively shallow waters are great for swimming and splashing about in.Priory Bay is almost directly south of Portsmouth Harbour and will take less than 20 minutes to get to at an average cruising speed.

Osborne Bay – Isle of Wight Osborne bay is, almost undoubtedly, one of the most popular lunch anchorages in the Solent. Situated on the north eastern face of the Island it is the first bay you will see coming out of Cowes (east bound). The bay is usually very sheltered from the wind which makes it a great sun trap in the midday sunshine, this makes it an ideal spot for an afternoon swim. As the bay is in the central Solent it is around a 20 minute cruise from the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour.

Newtown Creek - Isle of WightNewtown Creek offers one of the most peaceful spots in the Solent. The creek is protected by the National Trust but they have no objection to boats landing for barbeques and beach games. One of the great attractions to Sports boats and RIBs are the steep banks which make beaching a simple task, please check the tide before you go though. The bay also makes a lovely spot for anchoring, a bit of fishing and swimming. Newtown Creek is around 12 nautical miles from the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour so you can have the sausages on the barbeque within an hour.

Sea View – Isle of Wight Sea View offers a lovely seaside village on the northern coast of the Isle of Wight. With a selection of pubs, shops, beaches and even a wildlife centre there is something to satisfy everyone’s needs. Mooring at Sea View is very simple and you don’t even have to get your feet wet! There is a selection of mooring buoys outside the yacht club which you can tie to and a RIB will ferry you and your crew to dry land. Ferries run from 0830 till 1830 in the summer months and you can call ahead to let them know you are coming on 01983 613268. Sea View is almost due south of Portsmouth entrance and you’ll probably be there in around 15 minutes from the harbour mouth.

Yarmouth – Isle of WightYarmouth town is located in the Western Solent, and has main ferry services operating from its harbour. Yarmouth is known locally as being a great spot for fishing, and the harbour is always busy with ferries and small boats. During the warmer months, Yarmouth Castle is the perfect place to visit for fantastic sea views and family picnics. Yarmouth is home to plenty of pubs and restaurants, as well as plenty of B&Bs and a lovely hotel on the shore – making it ideal for a night away! Yarmouth will take approximately 2 hours to get to at an average cruising speed.

Bucklers Hard – Beaulieu River Quite possibly one of the quietest, most sedate rivers in the Solent – the Beaulieu River makes for an ideal destination on a sunny afternoon. As you meander through the river you will pass countless country houses and wildlife reserves on the way up to Bucklers Hard Marina where you can tie up and enjoy one of the local pubs or even sit out on the lawn with a picnic and a Frisbee. The river is around an hour’s cruise from the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour plus a short cruise from the river entrance towards Bucklers Hard Marina.

Hamble and River Hamble – Central Solent Hamble River is a picturesque, quiet river at the entrance to Southampton Water, with plenty of pubs and marinas dotted along its length. Hamble Point Marina is at the mouth of the river, with a chandlery, plenty of berths and a pub called the Ketch Rigger – a great choice for a Sunday lunch. For an afternoon of shopping and a leisurely lunch at a pub, you can visit Hamble itself, a village full of cobbled streets and fine dining. Much further along the Hamble is Swanwick Marina, with plenty of pubs and restaurants in the surrounding area as well as Bursledon train station. The Hamble is around an hour’s cruise from the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour.

Ocean Village – Central Solent Ocean Village Marina is sheltered by Southampton Water and is located in the heart of Southampton. Surrounded by shops, restaurants, cinemas and bars, Ocean Village Marina has a fantastic range of recreational activities accessible from its doorstep. Ocean Village has become famous for hosting the start or finish of round the world yacht races, and has plenty hotels within easy reach. Ocean Village is around an hour and a half cruise from the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour.

Lymington – Western Solent Lymington is a Georgian market town located on the southern edge of the New Forest. There are two large marinas giving you plenty of choice of berths. Lymington has a number of shops, boutiques, restaurants and pubs, leaving you with a large choice of places to go for a relaxing day exploring the town. Lymington is around a 2 hour cruise from the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour.